What are the requirements for non-local residents to buy a car in Tianjin?
2 Answers
Non-Tianjin residents must hold a Tianjin residence permit and have paid social insurance for two consecutive years (excluding back payments) to participate in the city's license plate lottery or auction. Residents in Tianjin include: Tianjin registered residents; active-duty military personnel stationed in Tianjin (including armed police forces); Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan residents, overseas Chinese, and foreigners who have valid identification and have continuously lived in Tianjin for more than 2 years, with a cumulative residence of at least 9 months each year. Hold a valid Tianjin residence permit or temporary residence permit: Non-Tianjin registered residents who have paid social insurance in Tianjin for more than two consecutive years (excluding back payments).
Last year, I bought a car in Tianjin, and at that time, two conditions needed to be met: first, you had to have a Tianjin residence permit, which you could apply for after living in Tianjin for six months. If you were renting, you needed to bring your rental contract and ID card to the local police station to apply. Second, you had to have paid social security in Tianjin continuously for two years without any breaks. After completing these, you also had to apply for a passenger car quota. For fuel vehicles, you needed to participate in a lottery, and I won the lottery on my third try. For new energy vehicles, you could apply directly, but the same residence permit and social security requirements applied. After buying the car, remember to complete the license plate registration within six months, and bring your ID card, car purchase invoice, and compulsory traffic insurance policy. The most time-consuming part of the whole process was waiting for the two years of social security payments, so it's advisable to plan ahead.
